By Maureen Gillum 11-17-24
Kirt & I joined StJB in late 2017 when we moved here from Hudson NH. Like many others, we found the Episcopal church when we married in ~1989, as our "bridge" church. Kirt was a 2-generation mid-west Disciples of Christ preacher's kid who came to NH for a software job. I was raised in a big Irish Catholic family just north of Boston.
For 30 years we belonged to Church of Good Shepherd (CGS) in Nashua, where we were semi-involved -- teaching Sunday School; ushering our 2 kids through their sacrements; tithing; but we also sometimes snuck in late to sit in a back row. Being in a large Episcopal church w/ a few hundred families, it was easy to hide.
When we moved up here, we caught the last few weeks of Reverend Sue Poulin, which we all have a fond RE-Membrance of. Interim Rev Janet Lombardo, who inspired big changes with our campus reconfiguration, cornered Kirt & I her 1st week...will you serve on Vestry or building committee? We became immersed in both...and more. It was our deep dive into that StJB work w/ others - raising $108K for the addition, being on Vestry, building Hansen-Pike Hall & navigating Zoom in the pandemic -- that forged our relationships and when St John became family to us.
As Dave & Joe already mentioned, what's unique about St John's is its intimacy. There's not a lot of hiding in a parish of 36. There's a welcoming warmth & sense of family that thrives here like no other. It's most evident in our 5 min Peace sessions & 2nd communion coffee hours, where Jackie's hard boiled eggs sustain us all.
Since our arrival here 7 years ago, we've had Sue, Janet, Dave DeSalvo, Jo Barrett & now Parson Kit. In the new model of part-time/shared ministry everywhere, preachers come & go. It's OUR connection & commitment to one another that makes us who we are. It's challenging, but we've become stronger, self-sufficient & more resilient as a parish these last few years. Clearly, WE - you & I - are the church.
We also welcome & feed all... very well….at our weekly coffee hours, our illustrious pie sales & yummy Chef Dave community dinners. Food is one of St John's best love languages.
I'm also happy to share just this week we sent out a record $12,000 in StJB’s 29th EpiscoGolf grants to 13 grateful local children's charities. Since 1995, EpiscoGolf has been St John's cornerstone outreach program. Thanks to it's early champions before me, like Marilyn Dodson, Dave Moberg, the Campbells & Jimbo, we've collectively given every cent of our proceeds - more than $142,000 -to local kids in need. We - YOU & I - collectively help to make that happen. We're a small but mighty community who walk in love & put our faith into action.
Since childhood, l've always been struck by Mark's gospel (12:38-44) on stewardship Rev Kay shared with us last week of the poor widow who put in her 2 meager copper coins. Jesus reminded us she'd given more than the richest as she gave from her poverty & all that she had. Truly, she gave out of her abundance of faith.
Stewardship is about giving - giving not just our treasure but also our time and talents - giving, from the heart, without any expectation of something in return. So please don't forget to fill in the back side of your pledge card by Nov 24th in how we might give of your time and talents - in acts of service or kindness, perhaps serving on a St John ministry team or as a reader, or simply visiting a shut-in, or hosting a coffee hour. Our service - is generally our most valuable gift.
What we do with our money is a powerful statement about what we value & what we believe. At its simplest & proportionally, if you make a lot, you give a lot. If you make little, you give little.
The natural inclination in tough times, is too often to cut back, especially in our giving. But it is at this time precisely, when we should actually give more, not less. Cutting back is a dangerous and destructive mind-set that limits and reduces our lives; where we live an ever-smaller and more miserly life of diminishing expectations... and faith.
Conversely, when we give abundantly of our time, talent & treasure, you live more openly, expansively and in connection with others and God. According to the Cleveland Clinic, the act of giving scientifically improves our health and happiness. It actually stimulates our brain's mesolimbic pathway or reward center. It literally releases endorphins and reduces cortisol, our stress hormones, which helps boost our self-esteem and happiness. The joy of generosity literally produces a "helper's high" and contributes to a longer, happier and more fulfilling life.
We all need to give in our own way and what we can. Keep in mind, God cares about the WHY of our giving and loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9.7). Let's relook at giving as an opportunity of joy, gratitude and faith and not about anguish, despair or guilt. Let us walk in love and give in love to keep us a small but mighty community who puts our faith into action.
"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." - Matthew 6:21
